The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

cut off the bow of Karna’s hand along with the
arrowy shower the latter had shot. Karna then
taking out another bow that was strong and capable
of bearing a great strain and that was as large as
Indra’s bow, drew it with great force. Then
Karna shot some foe-slaying shafts of golden wings
at those sky-ranging Rakshasas. Afflicted with
those shafts, the large foes of broad chested Rakshasas
looked agitated like a herd of wild elephants afflicted
by a lion. Destroying with his shafts those Rakshasas
along with their steeds and diverse elephants, the
puissant Karna looked like the divine Agni consuming
all creatures at the time of the universal dissolution.
Having destroyed that Rakshasa host, the Suta’s
son looked resplendent like the god Maheswara in heaven
after having consumed the triple city (of the Asuras).
Among those thousands of kings on the Pandava side,
O sire, there was not a single one, O monarch, that
could even look at Karna then, save the mighty Ghatotkacha,
that prince of Rakshasas, who was endued with terrible
energy and strength, and who, inflamed with rage,
then looked like Yama himself. From his eyes,
as he was excited with wrath, flames of fire seemed
to emit, like blazing drops of oil from a couple of
burning brands. Striking his palm against palm
and biting his nether lip, the Rakshasa was once more
seen on a car that had been created by his illusion,
and unto which were yoked a number of asses, looking
like elephants and having the faces of Pisachas.
Excited with wrath, he addressed his driver, saying,
‘Bear me towards the Suta’s son.’
Then that foremost of car-warriors proceeded on that
terrible-looking car of his, for once more fighting
a single combat with the Suta’s son, O king!
The Rakshasa, excited with rage, hurled at the Suta’s
son an Asani of Rudra’s workmanship, terrible
and furnished with eight wheels. Karna, placing
his bow on his car, jumped down on the earth and seizing
that Asani hurled it back at Ghatotkacha. The
latter, however, had quickly descended from his car
(before the weapon could reach it). The Asani,
meanwhile, of great effulgence, having reduced the
Raksha’s car to ashes, with it steeds, driver,
and standard, piercing through the earth, disappeared
within its bowels, at which the gods were filled with
wonder. Then all creatures applauded Karna, who,
having jumped down from his car, had seized that Asani.
Having achieved that feat, Karna once more ascended
his car. The Suta’s sort, that scorcher
of foes, then began to shoot his shafts. Indeed,
O giver of honours, there is none else amongst all
living creatures who can accomplish what Karna accomplished
in that frightful battle. Struck by Karna with
shafts like a mountain with torrents of rain, Ghatotkacha
once more disappeared from the field of battle like
the melting forms of vapour in the sky. Contending
in this way, the gigantic Rakshasa, that slayer of
foes, destroyed the celestial weapons of Karna by
means of his activity as also his power of illusion.